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Alcor News Bulletin
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Number 46: December 11, 2005
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Authors This Issue:
Jennifer Chapman [JC], Diane Cremeens [DC], Tanya Jones
[TJ], Sergey Sheleg [SSH], Steve Van Sickle [SVS], Website
Working Group [WWG].
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In this issue:
* Update on the $100,000 Matching Grant for Whole Body
* Vitrification Research
* Financial Matters
* Bookkeeping
* Engineering Development Matters
* Research Update
* Sterilization Update
* Magazine / Alcor News Development
* Media This Month
* Construction Update
* Membership Statistics
* Alcor United
* Employment Opportunities
* Next Board Meeting
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$100,000 Matching Grant for
Whole Body Vitrification Research
So far, we've received $18,070 of the $100,000. We
encourage everyone, whether signed up whole-body or neuro,
to contribute to this program, since the technologies we
are working on should improve both methods of
cryopreservation. This is a rare opportunity to leverage
your contribution, dollar for dollar. Please write a check
for however much you can afford, payable to Alcor, and note
in the memo area "Matching Grant". Thank you everyone for
your continuing support.
Call now to make your pledge: 877-462-5267 ext. 101
Or print and fax your pledge form to: 480-922-9027
Pledge forms are available at this link:
http://www.alcor.org/Library/pdfs/MatchingGrant.pdf
When sending donations by mail, include this pledge form or
simply write "Matching Grant Donation" in the memo field of
your check:
Alcor Foundation
7895 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 110
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Attention: Fundraising Dept.
[SVS]
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Financial Matters
Our accounting firm of Fester & Chapman finished their
formal review of the 2004 financial statements. The report
was formally presented to the Board at the December
meeting. These reviewed financial statements will be made
available on our website. Fester & Chapman has also
provided us with a formal set of recommendations to improve
our internal financial controls. We are still reviewing the
document, but at first look it appears that we have already
implemented most of the recommendations, and the remainder
we will be doing shortly. A more detailed report on this
will be provided next month.
We have also completed the four backlogged case billings
that had not yet been done, bringing our clinical accounts
current. A draft 2006 budget is complete and has been
distributed to the Board for review and discussion.
We're also in the process of finalizing a new contract for
liquid nitrogen. Our current supplier was unwilling to re-
negotiate terms upon the conclusion of this contract year,
and we went looking for other suppliers with better
pricing. Once the new contract goes into effect next March,
we will see a 45% reduction in liquid nitrogen costs and
delivery charges. Effectively, our price will drop to
$0.20/liter. This should save the Patient Care Trust nearly
$20,000 in 2006, more if the case load is similar to what
it was this year. [SVS/TJ]
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Bookkeeping
We have hired Sheila Kimbrell for temporary part-time work
as bookkeeper here at Alcor. She is available 2 days a week
until the beginning of January (tax season) and will be
filling in until we can find a permanent replacement.
Ms. Kimbrell is a long time friend of our membership
administrator Diane Cremeens. She has since 2001 been
operating a private accounting practice, and prior to that
was employed from 1986 by Heiser & Associates, a small
local accounting firm (15 years). She left this position,
her sole employer prior to private practice, when the firm
dissolved on the death of its owner. She has formal
education in accounting from Phoenix College, and has been
certified as a Quickbooks Professional Advisor, though that
certification has lapsed. She is a past president and
current board member of the Arizona Society of Practicing
Accountants (http://www.aspaaccts.org/index.htm), member of
the National Society of Accountants, past president of the
North Valley Business Network (http://www.nvbnetwork.com/),
and treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 431.
Her references have been checked, and she has undergone the
complete battery of background checks offered by our
employment agency ADP TotalSource. [SVS]
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Engineering Development Matters
Work has resumed on a number of the engineering development
projects approved by the R&D committee, including the
Intermediate Temperature Storage (ITS) monitoring project
and the annealing test project. The ITS Neuropod purchased
from 21st Century Medicine is in an operation-capable dewar
and undergoing long term testing at operating temperatures
(-140C). [SVS]
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Research Update
Brain samples for 12 and 24 hours of warm cardiac arrest
and brain samples after vitrification using M22 were
analyzed using electron microscopy. The preliminary results
showed the presence of autolytic damage of cortical neurons
in 9, 12, and 24 hours of warm cardiac arrest. More
discussion of the results is required, especially with
regard to the samples processed using M22.
Another set of brain samples was processed for light
microscopy by Neuroscience Associates, Inc. using apoptotic
marker Caspase-3. (Apoptosis is programmed cell death.)
Preliminary results showed no significant apoptosis
activation during prolonged brain anoxia. [SSH]
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Sterilization Update
To follow-up on the brief mention last month, our new
sterilizer is now functioning properly and has been used to
sterilize its first tubing packs. [TJ]
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Magazine / Alcor News Development
Alcor's members want more outreach tools they can use to
introduce others to cryonics and Alcor. The vision for
achieving this started with development of the 30-minute
DVD and continues now to Cryonics magazine and Alcor News.
Cryonics magazine will be transformed in 2006 to offer a
more mainstream, thought-provoking publication. Look for
intriguing articles by a wider array of authors, a polished
appearance, and discussion of topics that underscore the
many highly compelling facets of cryonics. An article will
be included with the first issue of the magazine explaining
the changes, and an Editorial Board is being formed.
Participants from the Board of Directors and advisory
boards are sought.
To make this transformation a success within the current
budget, the publication frequency will be reduced to four
issues per year. Efforts will be made to avoid decreased
contact with members and other supporters. To aid with
timely information flow, expansion of Alcor News is being
considered. [JC]
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Construction Update
The major change in the state of the construction this
month concerns the delivery and installation of our new
bulk tank. This tank sat on the vendor's lot for more than
two years, as the construction project slowly inched
forward. We finally accepted delivery last week, using a
local crane company to off-load the tank from the flatbed
truck and install it in the new patient care bay. In all,
the construction project is about 90% complete. The only
major items remaining are installation of some ducting, the
stairs to the roof and roof hatch, hanging the OR lights,
and some concrete floor smoothing. There has been some
slowing of the construction due to confusion over billing.
We have received late and incorrect billings, delaying
payment, but the bills and payments are now correct and up
to date. We have begun slow-motion moving of equipment into
the new spaces, and will switch into high gear when the
major items are complete and the contractor removes his
equipment. We have also begun some much-needed cosmetic
improvements to the office and lab areas, mostly paint and
trim. Bill Voice deserves credit for taking the initiative
on that. [TJ/SVS]
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Media This Month
An estimated 24,097 distinct computers visited Alcor's
website in October. Media participation this month
includes:
- WHFS Radio, US: Tanya Jones did an interview for this
radio station with questions and comments from callers.
- GQ Spain, Spain: We coordinated with an editor who was
helping with an article about cryonics.
- An open letter signed by over 60 scientists and
physicians endorsing the scientific basis of cryonics has
been made public and can be found at:
http://www.cryoletter.org.
As always, a real-time list of new things on our website is
available at: http://www.alcor.org/whatsnew.html [JC/WWG]
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Membership Statistics
Approvals: 11
Members: 781
Applicants: 63
On November 30, 2005, Alcor had 781 members on its
Emergency Responsibility List. Five memberships were
approved during this month, no memberships were reinstated,
three memberships were cancelled and no members were
cryopreserved. A correction to last month's figures was
made, where a cancelled member was counted in both the
membership total and the cancelled count. Overall, there
was a net gain of one member this month. We have an average
net gain of 6.1 members per month in 2005, which compares
favorably to the average net gain of 4.3 members per month
last year. At the end of this month, Alcor had 62
applicants for membership, a net loss of 5 applicants.
Alcor distributed 108 information packs this month. Our
average for 2005 has grown to 118 per month, compared to 50
in 2004. There were 815 subscribers to Alcor News as of the
last issue. [DC]
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Alcor United
Alcor members have a new forum where they can meet and chat
with other members. Get to know other cryonics supporters
in your area by visiting Alcor United:
www.alcorunited.org
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Employment Opportunities
Have you ever thought about joining the Alcor team? We have
immediate needs for licensed Paramedics, Emergency Medical
Technicians, Registered Nurses, Lab Technicians and more to
join our nationwide Transport Team. Participation would be
on a contractual basis.
You'll be given cryonics training that will enable you to
participate in our patient rescue and transport cases.
Licensed professionals do not have to be Alcor members to
work with us. We welcome your expertise and interest. If
you're interested, send your resume to:
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Next Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January
7, 2006, at 11:00 AM (MST).
Board meetings are typically held on the first Saturday of
the month at the Alcor facility (7895 East Acoma Drive in
Scottsdale, AZ). Members and the public are encouraged to
attend.
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End of Alcor News bulletin #46 dated December 11, 2005.
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